Kansas Regents OK Higher Education Budget Request

Kansas City Power & Light is appealing a September ruling by Kansas regulators reducing the percentage of annual profit the utility is allowed to return to its stockholders.

The Kansas Board of Regents has asked the governor to restore tens of millions of dollars in higher education spending that was cut this spring.

Regents Chairman Fred Logan says that although the budget has been approved for the next fiscal year, the board had a responsibility to advocate for increased investment in the state system.

The biggest amount would be more than $35 million that was cut from the six state universities’ budgets over the next two years. The cuts were made in across-the-board spending, as well as salary reductions on the campuses.

The request was adopted by a voice vote by the regents, sending it to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback for consideration.

Legislators are touring the campuses in October to assess the schools’ needs.